diff --git a/convex-peer/src/main/java/convex/peer/Server.java b/convex-peer/src/main/java/convex/peer/Server.java
index fa028a449..8da4355d2 100644
--- a/convex-peer/src/main/java/convex/peer/Server.java
+++ b/convex-peer/src/main/java/convex/peer/Server.java
@@ -631,6 +631,11 @@ public Peer persistPeerData() throws IOException {
 			AMap<ACell,ACell> newRootData = currentRootData.assoc(rootKey, peerData);
 
 			newRootData=store.setRootData(newRootData).getValue();
+			
+			// ensure specific values are persisted, might be needed for lookup
+			store.storeTopRef(peer.getGenesisState().getRef(), Ref.PERSISTED, null);
+			store.storeTopRef(peer.getBelief().getRef(), Ref.PERSISTED, null);
+			
 			peerData=(AMap<Keyword, ACell>) newRootData.get(rootKey);
 			log.debug( "Stored peer data with hash: {}", peerData.getHash().toHexString());
 			return Peer.fromData(getKeyPair(), peerData);